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Shire of West Arthur
Western Australia
Shire Of West Arthur Office, April 2021.jpg
Shire Of West Arthur offices
West arthur LGA WA.png
Location in Western Australia
Established 1896
Area 2,834.2 km2 (1,094.3 sq mi)
Shire President Neil Morrell
Council seat Darkan
Region Wheatbelt
State electorate(s) Roe
Federal Division(s) O'Connor
West Arthur logo.png
Website Shire of West Arthur
LGAs around Shire of West Arthur:
Collie Williams Narrogin
Collie Shire of West Arthur Wagin
Boyup Brook Kojonup Woodanilling

The Shire of West Arthur is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, generally to the west of Albany Highway about 200 kilometres (124 mi) south-east of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of 2,834 square kilometres (1,094 sq mi) and its seat of government is the town of Darkan. Industries within the Shire, worth approximately $45 million per year to the State's economy, are dominated by wool and sheep, and also include timber, grain, forestry, beef, pigs, cattle hide tanning, engineering and earthmoving.

History

The West Arthur Road District was created on 10 January 1896. On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of West Arthur under the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires. The name relates to its position with respect to the former Arthur Road District, which was renamed to Wagin in 1905.

Wards

The ward system was discontinued on 20 October 2007 and all nine councillors represent the entire shire.

Previously, the shire was divided into four wards:

  • North West (three councillors)
  • North East (two councillors)
  • South East (two councillors)
  • South West (two councillors)

Towns and localities

The towns and localities of the Shire of West Arthur with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:

Locality Population Area Map
Arthur River 66 (SAL 2021) [convert: needs a number]
Bokal 42 (SAL 2021) [convert: needs a number]
Bowelling 84 (SAL 2021) [convert: needs a number]
Darkan 371 (SAL 2021) [convert: needs a number]
Duranillin 53 (SAL 2021) [convert: needs a number]
Mokup 62 (SAL 2021) [convert: needs a number]
Moodiarrup 63 (SAL 2021) [convert: needs a number]
Trigwell 31 (SAL 2021) [convert: needs a number]

Former towns

Population

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1911 674 —    
1921 624 −0.77%
1933 1,047 +4.41%
1947 876 −1.27%
1954 1,295 +5.74%
1961 1,398 +1.10%
1966 1,427 +0.41%
1971 1,303 −1.80%
1976 1,293 −0.15%
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1981 1,288 −0.08%
1986 1,118 −2.79%
1991 973 −2.74%
1996 985 +0.25%
2001 863 −2.61%
2006 858 −0.12%
2011 868 +0.23%
2016 809 −1.40%
2021 773 −0.91%

Heritage-listed places

Main article: List of State Register of Heritage Places in the Shire of West Arthur
Old Tillellan (Piesse's) Shearing Quarters, Arthur River, April 2021 06
The state heritage listed Old Tillellan Shearing Quarters at Arthur River in 2021

As of 2023, 60 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of West Arthur, of which three are on the State Register of Heritage Places.

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